Rhodia Technyl® Polyamide components chosen for Fiat 500 city car - ‘Car of the Year 2008’

Lyon, France – October 9, 2008 – Rhodia Polyamide confirms that its Technyl® Polyamide Engineering Plastics have been used for a number of components in the new super compact Fiat 500 city car - voted ‘Car of the Year 2008’.

To achieve this ‘super compact’ car the main challenges for Fiat and Fiat’s Tier 1 suppliers were weight reduction, the design of compact parts with function integration and cost reduction.

In pursuit of these goals, Rhodia’s Technyl® Polyamides were considered ideal materials for components such as the air intake manifold and cooling fans in the engine compartment, fuel filler pipes, pedals, gear lever housing and rear mirror support.

Several of Rhodia’s Polyamide materials were developed as application-specific in close co-operation with Fiat engineers. For example the blow mouldable Polyamide used in the fuel filler system, which meets the severe technical criteria set by Fiat to minimize fuel permeation and to pass low temperature impact tests.

For under-the-bonnet applications, Rhodia’s Technyl® polyamide materials were selected due to their excellent thermal resistance, as well as their retention of mechanical properties over the lifetime of the vehicle.

Moreover, Rhodia’s Technyl® Polyamide materials, designed for external parts, passed the Fiat standard for resistance to the degrading effects of prolonged exposure to UV light. Additionally, the excellent surface finish achievable with many Technyl® grades, allowed greater design freedom in matching the requirements of both end users and Tier 1 suppliers.

In respect of the Fiat 500 project, Rhodia also co-operated with Tier 1’s on part design, providing solid technical support that included Finite Element Analysis, design optimisation and part testing.

The large material range offered by Rhodia Polyamide represents the ideal route to metal replacement, with the possibility to provide a two-thirds weight reduction compared with steel and a cost saving by as much as 30%.

Through its material offering, Rhodia contributed to Fiat weight reduction objectives. This is a key issue at all major OEMs as lower vehicle weight translates into lower fuel consumption and the ability to satisfy the more severe regulatory requirements on CO2 emissions. The Fiat 500 performs very well with a CO2 emission of only 119gr per km when equipped with the 1.2 litre engine.

“The success of Technyl® grades in the Car of the Year 2008 is the result of many years of strong co-operation between Rhodia, Fiat and Fiat’s Tier 1 suppliers,” says Giuseppe Brunacci, in charge of Materials - Engineering Plastics for Fiat Group Automobile.

This statement is echoed by Erico SPINI, who has responsibility for the Fiat Account at Rhodia Polyamide.

The Fiat 500 inherits the style of the ‘old 500‘ model that symbolised Italy’s economic boom in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Since its launch in July 2007, the new Fiat 500 has aroused huge interest and success by reaching a more than 14% share in segment A - second only to the Fiat Panda.

Rhodia is more than an established, long-term material supplier for Fiat components: in respect of polyamide parts Rhodia can be considered a strategic global partner of Fiat.

Reader enquiries

Rhodia Polyamide
Avenue Ramboz
F-69192 Saint-Fons Cedex
France
+33 4 72 89 27 53
anne-elisabeth.mourey@​eu.rhodia.com
www.eu.rhodia.com

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Notes for editors

Fiat

Fiat is known for its creativity, versatility and practicality. On its path to growth the Company has combined its glorious past with an increasingly innovation-focused present and future. Today the Fiat brand embodies a number of fundamental values: understanding people’s needs and desires and providing them with concrete, flexible, and customised answers. The new 500, which was named ‘Car Of The Year 2008’, is living proof of this.

The Fiat mission is to build automobiles with attractive designs and exciting engines; cars that are accessible and improve the quality of everyday life.

Rhodia Polyamide

Rhodia Polyamide is Rhodia's fully integrated enterprise focusing on Polyamide 6.6. Its strategy rests on three pillars: a high worldwide competitiveness of intermediates & polymers along with strong development of the industrial footprint in fast growing regions; the strengthening of engineering plastics as a growth engine; and a focus on Asia and Brazil as priority regions for expansion beyond our European base. In South America, Rhodia Polyamide also holds strong positions in phenol and adiponitrile route, industrial yarns and fibers.

For further details about Rhodia Polyamide visit the website at www.rhodia-polyamide.com.

Rhodia

Rhodia is an international chemical company resolutely committed to sustainable development. As a leader in its businesses, the Group aims to improve its customers’ performance through the pursuit of operational excellence and its ability to innovate. Structured around six Enterprises, Rhodia is the partner of major players in the automotive, tire, electronics, perfume, health & beauty and home care markets. The Group employs around 15,000 people worldwide and generated sales of €4.8 billion in 2007. Rhodia is listed on Euronext Paris.

For further details about the Group, visit Rhodia’s website at: www.rhodia.com.